| Altoona, Iowa | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Altoona welcome sign | |
| Location of Altoona, Iowa | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | USA |
| State | Iowa |
| County | Polk |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.1 sq mi (18.4 km2) |
| • Land | 7.1 sq mi (18.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 955 ft (291 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 15,583 |
| • Density | 1,456.2/sq mi (562.2/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 50009 |
| Area code(s) | 515 |
| FIPS code | 19-01630 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0454160 |
Altoona is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States and is a part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 15,583 at the 2010 census; a special census taken in August 2005 counted 13,301 residents.[1]
Altoona is home of Adventureland, an amusement park, Prairie Meadows, a horse racing track and casino, and a Bass Pro Shops retail store, the first one in central Iowa.
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Altoona incorporated as a city on March 11, 1876. It is named for the Latin word for "high," altus, after surveyor Julian B. Bausman discovered that Altoona was the highest point on the Des Moines Valley Railroad between Des Moines and Keokuk.[2]
By the turn of the 20th century, Altoona could almost be classified as a coal camp. United Mine Workers of America Local 407 was organized in Altoona in 1897, and by 1902, it had 61 members. This is close to 20% of the population at the time.[3]
Altoona's longitude and latitude coordinates
in decimal form are 41.650089, −93.472546. [4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.1 square miles (18 km2), all land.
| Altoona Historical Populations |
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|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 400 |
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| 1890 | 326 | −18.5% | |
| 1900 | 328 | 0.6% | |
| 1910 | 438 | 33.5% | |
| 1920 | 502 | 14.6% | |
| 1930 | 514 | 2.4% | |
| 1940 | 640 | 24.5% | |
| 1950 | 763 | 19.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,458 | 91.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,883 | 97.7% | |
| 1980 | 5,764 | 99.9% | |
| 1990 | 7,242 | 25.6% | |
| 2000 | 10,345 | 42.8% | |
| 2010 | 15,583 | 50.6% | |
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As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 10,345 people, 3,850 households, and 2,895 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,835.4 people per square mile (708.2/km²). There were 3,959 housing units at an average density of 557.3 per square mile (215.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.11% White, 0.92% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.41% Pacific Islander, 0.77% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.
There were 3,850 households out of which 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 19.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,162, and the median income for a family was $58,306. Males had a median income of $36,030 versus $28,205 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,336. About 4.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
Altoona (along with nearby Runnells, Mitchellville, and parts of Pleasant Hill and Des Moines) is a part of the Southeast Polk Community School District, and its students attend Southeast Polk High School. The town is home to four of the eight elementary schools in the district: Altoona, Centennial, Clay, and Willowbrook. The current Altoona Elementary building also served as the town's high school until it joined the Southeast Polk consolidation in 1962.
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